Creative Reuse
User Research, Branding, Creative Direction, UI/UX
In a world of new, new, new, how can we encourage the use
of what is already here? For over 20 years, the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse has facilitated the process of repurpose as a non-traditional art supply store. Using various user research methods, my teammates Elijah Benzon, Kevin Lorenzi, and I conceptualized a new design system and visual identity for the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse that encourages and encapsulates the play, creativity, community, and reuse so integral to the organization.
Role
Co-Designer
Course
Visual Communication
Studio
Duration
1 month
Tools
Illustrator, InDesign,
After Effects, Figma
Icon stystem developed from photographs of in-store items
Playful color palette applied to a dark and light mode
After initial customer interviews, we learned that some people felt the concrete blocks in front of the store were intimidating and unnerving. Using images of bulk items sold at Creative Reuse, we created a set of images that we imagined would be wheat pasted onto the front of those concrete blocks and rotated regularly to showcase the kinds of items sold inside.
The Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse is an organization grounded in creativity and community. To highlight its support of local arts, we used the blank space next to the front door as a "Featured Artist" display that would showcase work from a local artist and be rotated regularly.
Artwork courtesy of Monica Cervone McElwain
Donation and reach are integral to the mission and model of the
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. When conducting initial
user interviews, we discovered some people wished there was an
easier way to quickly get all the information necessary to donate
items, including when to come in and the types of items they could bring in. After user feedback and many iterations, we created a donation app that quickly and easily allowed a user to set up an
appointment to donate items.
We revamped the existing website with our new visual system and a re-organized information architecture.